Flanked by law enforcement from various agencies, Attorney… (Pam Bondi's Facebook, Pam…)

May 11, 2013|MCT REGIONAL NEWS

CLEARWATER -- State and local law enforcement officials announced Friday they have broken up a human trafficking and prostitution ring that operated throughout the Tampa Bay area.

The two men accused of running the operation -- Peter Kitt, 41, and Shawn Franklin, 42 --were arrested today. Each was charged with one count of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering.

"These arrests are the first step in bringing justice and peace to the victims of this alleged sex trafficking ring," Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "Florida is a zero-tolerance state for human trafficking and any individuals engaged in this abhorrent crime will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The suspects are accused of forcing 16 women into prostitution by sexually assaulting them, beating them and threatening to kill them, law enforcement officials said at a news conference Friday.

The women are between 21 and 25 and from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds. That allowed Kitt to provide particular types of women for customers who requested them, law enforcement officials said.

After the women were forced into submission at a Pinellas County brothel they were sent out to have sex with men throughout the Tampa Bay area in private homes and at hotels.

Kitt received all the proceeds, said Clearwater Police Chief Anthony Holloway.

Three of the sixteen women have been rescued. Law enforcement officials hope the others come forward.

The investigation was conducted by the Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area Task Force on Human Trafficking Agencies, which includes the Clearwater Police Department, the Florida Office of Statewide Prosecutor, the federal Department of Homeland Security, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Largo Police Department, Pinellas Park Police Department and the St. Petersburg Police Department.